Dean & Clark meet to discuss VP and support

[HootieMcBoob]

Sorry if this is old news but...

Whether it's a Dean/Clark or Clark/Dean ticket it's a winner! Looks like these guys might be thinking along the same lines as a lot of us :toast:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean has asked former NATO commander Wesley Clark to join his campaign if Clark does not run himself and the two have discussed the vice presidency, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

the rest at... http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-politics-clark.html

[vi5]

1. I don't know that it will happen but I like this thinking....

I've said before that it's this tactic that bush* and company used in the 2000 election and primary season. It calms many reservations people have about experience and gives the feeling of electing a team rather than an individual.

It's one of those things that I don't necessarily buy into but I know a lot of people who do.

[liberalnurse]

2. Yes it is a dupe

but its always appreciated to share enthusiasm ! It is obvious to me that the only way to beat *bush is have a team that covers the issues 360. This is a team that most certainly does this.

Comming out early is brilliant! We have the battle of our lives aheard of us. Traditional paths will not work because they have already been assessed by the *bush regime and they are well prepared.

The 9 dems have done a fine job of ripping open the veil of silence and fear of Americans to criticize this administration.

Now we can hit them in a most unpredictable fashion, gain money and continue the message of truth about this criminal they call president.

Dean and Clark.....thats my ticket of hope.

[molly]

3. Lof of "IF"

Clark is scheduled to make a speech Sept. 19 at the University of Iowa, and is widely expected to announce by then whether he will make a run for the White House.

Clark said in a Reuters interview recently that he has talked to several presidential candidates, not just Dean, about foreign and domestic issues and about campaigning.

[ewagner]

4. To me, this doesn't make sense

I can't imagine Clark, as thorough and cautious as he is, to be casting his lot with a specific candidate. The political risks are too high because:

if you associate yourself with one candidate, you alienate all the others

if you associate with a specific candidate, then you assume all the baggage that comes with that candidate (no matter who he/she is)

if you associate with another candidate for (say) VP slot, you are absolutely dependent on that person winning the nomination....and we have a llloooooonnnnggg way to go.

Politically, this just doesn't make sense.

[BlueEyedSon]

5. I dissagree entirely.

Clark signing on with a candidate could MAKE that candidate the winner (assuming that candidate was a contender to beging with), so he has his choice.

[uptohere]

11. Great idea for the good doctor, bad idea for the general

as already pointed out it makes it harder to go work for anyone else should Dean falter. But it might solidify things for Dean so that it doesn't happen.

Real roll of the dice and far too early.

[Le Taz Hot]

23. I disagree that Clark is the one

who is doing the associating -- it's the press. If Dean does get the nomination, I do think he'll absolutely consider Clark as a V.P. candidate.

I have mixed feelings about that. On one hand, I think Clark would scare the holy bejezus outta Rove & Co. and gain a significant number of military votes and Southern votes. On the other hand, I'm not sure it would be a good thing to have two Washington outsiders on the same ticket. Recent history splits on that one. Carter had Mondale but couldn't win reelction. Clinton had Gore and they did win a second term. (Still pondering) Still . . . the WH Chief of Staff is the REAL power and that person, along with the remaining cabinet, could come from the beltway. Must do futher pondering on this one.

[bushisanidiot]

6. Dean/Clark Has a Nice Ring To It

It's a good ticket and I hope it goes that way.. Dean/Richardson is my preference though.

[meegbear]

7. or perhaps Clark asking dean to be his running mate?

Hmmmmm?

[chimpymustgo]

8. Or perhaps the media is continuing to do Rove's bidding

by pumping Dean. Clark has met with many candidates. This doesn't pass the smell test.

[spooky3]

9. I like it

and I like that the Dem field is large and changing without a clear frontrunner at this point. It makes it MUCH harder for the Repugs to formulate a bashing strategy.

[Starpass]

10. Some of the biggest Clark meetings have been

with Bill Clinton. Somehow I cannot see the power broker of the Dem party being a supporter of Dean. In fact, let me throw this out. I think Edwards made his announcement because the power structure of the DNC has assured him of the VP slot and, thus, assured him of who will be the nominee. He wouldn't give up his seat for nothing and he wouldn't give it up over his numbers. Let's see... Clark and Edwards doing a gang bang on the South!!---sounds good to me.

[indigo32]

13. I'm not saying your wrong

I have been wondering about Edwards announcement and what you say makes sense. But it does annoy me. Don't we get ANY SAY? Argghhhh. I guess we'll have to see how it all shakes out.

[FubarFly]

14. Beware the all powerful, all seeing Karl Rove.

:scared:

Could it just be that Dean is a good story? Could it be that, unlike Gore for example, Dean knows how to work the media and perhaps we should view this as a positive? Maybe we could give a little bit of credit to those in the Dean camp who have been working their asses off to affect positive media? And perhaps we should stop blaming everything as a sinister conspiracy by the new liberal boogyman, Karl Rove?


Just maybe? :shrug:

[Starpass]

12. Actually, think about this

Which camp let the reporters know of this meeting??---Clark?? I doubt it. It would have been the Dean camp. Howard said live at end of an interview a few weeks ago when asked about a Clark run that he "hated to have to run against the guy". Could it be the Dean knows he's coming into the race; wants to get associated with Clark and thus try to have people believe that they are exactly the same on all issues; wants people to believe that they can still go ahead and vote for him because he will make Clark his VP, etc. The others have met with Clark and don't have it on page one of a newspaper. I think Dean may be trying to hang on to Clark's coattails and make it look like Clark has to hang onto his. I want to know how the story got out and why a reporter would know what they talked about in a meeting?? Someone had to blab.

[cjbuchanan]

17. I think it is on page one because...

Right now Dean is the frontrunner and Clark is potentially the next big story in the Dem contest.

I do think this story helps Dean, but I also think it helps Clark. To have the frontrunner in a race come and talk with you about the race and your effect on it elevates Clark's stature.

Both parties come on positive with this story. The real losers are the other 8 dems.

Just my thoughts.

[cjbuchanan]

15. Join his campaign might not mean VP

I'm sure if Dean won the nomination, he would consider Clark for a VP, but I get the feeling that, at this point, Dean is asking more for his support and endorsement if he does not run. I also think most of the other 8 will or have done the same.

It would be big news for any candidate if Clark endorsed them. It would almost be a big as a Clinton (Bill) or Gore endorsement.

However, I think that if Clark decides not to run, he will wait to endorse till early January or February.

Just my thoughts.

[HereSince1628]

16. It seems sort of early to be naming running mates...

I am not saying anything about anyones's qualities but

Naming a running mate now means the Pres candidate must defend his/her personal record/history as well as the VP running mate's.

It may prejudice the party's opportunity to have a VP-candidate on a ticket with someone else. Who would want a running mate that spent months arguing against his/her positions?


There is the potential to lose needed flexibility. Although the issues seem obvious, a year from now the priorities may be shifted. Some social event or the strength/weakness of opposing parties' candidates may warrant a different choice. It's hard to imagine deficits and the economy to not be an issue, but what if the GOP makes significant gain in antiabortion, or what if unemployment spikes to say 12-15% next Sept. It might be really good for the ticket to have a VP candidate of a different gender or professional history than what was picked 14 months before the election.

It also takes away the use of the running mate selection as a means to "heal rifts." It would seem that there are some significant bad feelings developing and healing will be needed.

[Avalux]

18. I AM TIRED

of hearing the Dean supporters continue to talk about Clark as VP. Clark himself has said repeatedly he's not considering it - if he's in he's in for the nomination.
I can understand though why Dean supporters are doing this - it would be a gigantic boost to have a military man as his running mate. They know national security issues will be a weakness for Dean in the months ahead.
Just the fact that this rumor is spread, giving the impression that Clark and Dean are buddies helps Dean.

[Kahuna]

19. Dean is desperate. He fears that Clark entering the race..

will end his fifteen minutes of fame. All of the candidates fear Clark. And they should.

[indigo32]

21. 15 minutes of fame

HAHAHAHAHAHA
now I like Clark... but thats just lame.

[tjdee]

22. I agree--"FOUR STAR GENERAL consults Dean".

Looks to me like Clark isn't the one doing the leaking. He has met with other candidates, but Dean's campaign is the one going HEY HEY, LOOKIE US.

Creative, sure.

But if Clark runs, he is running for himself--and then we'll see how complimentary Dean is of him.

[tjdee]

20. HELLO people--did you read this part?

"Clark said in a Reuters interview recently that he has talked to several presidential candidates, NOT JUST DEAN, about foreign and domestic issues and about campaigning."

In other words, the media (Dean dean dean dean) is seeking to forge an alliance between the two where none necessarily exists.

Did Reuters run a story when Clark met with anyone else? Nope.
And Dean is just pleased as punch to help that thinking out.